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PIGG’S PEAK – A pupil of Fundukuwela High School is ready to write her final exam but there is one obstacle to overcome – the examination fee.
Simphiwe Dlamini, who is 20 years old, has not been able to pay the examination fee due to financial challenges.
She said she had been a pupil at the school since Form I and previously attended Cetjwayo Primary School.
She obtained a Second Class pass in Grade VII and proceeded to high school. Fundukuwela High School is situated at Nkomanzi while Cetjwayo Primary School is under Ndzingeni Inkhundla.
Committed
Simphiwe said she was committed to her schoolwork and had been performing well as she had a dream to study Business Management upon completing her education.
She revealed that she was assisted by different people to pay her school fees but due to the outbreak of COVID-19, some of her sponsors had not been able to assist her to pay for the examination. She said she was looking for assistance of about E3 500 so that she could pay the examination fee. When asked if she was ready to write the examination, Simphiwe responded to the affirmative.
She said she could not pay at the school because the deadline for schools had passed. However, she said she was advised that she could pay directly at the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA).
Her mother, Thandazile Shiba, confirmed that they were struggling to get money to pay the examination fee as she was unemployed and sometimes earned her living by plaiting people’s hair.
She said her daughter was very committed and dedicated to doing her schoolwork despite the continuous closure and opening of schools.
Shiba said she was confident that if her daughter could be given the opportunity to write the examination, she would perform well and proceed to tertiary.
Comment
Dr Edmund Mazibuko, who is ECESWA Registrar, could not be reached for comment to confirm if pupils could still pay the examination fee.
The Head teacher of Fundukuwela, Richard Matsenjwa, also confirmed that the deadline for paying at the school had passed.
However, he said one of the pupils paid at the examination council a week ago. “She may be able to pay if she goes to the examinations council directly,” said Matsenjwa.